Voice of the people (letter).

Cuban Policy

September 05, 1998|By Jason Poblete.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — I could say that your paper, founded in 1847, is "old and grumpy" as well. Your opinions about current U.S. policy toward Cuba seem to be ("Our grumpy old Cuba policy," Editorial, Aug. 31).

Your readers deserve to know how Fidel Castro and his thugs subjugate the will of the people for state and personal power, how the basic necessities of life such as food and shelter are difficult to come by for ordinary Cubans while tourists and party officials have access to these goods and services--a Cuban apartheid.

If exiles broke U.S. laws they should be held accountable for their crimes. But keep in mind that Castro is the enemy. Your paper seems to forget this from time to time.

The issue is not U.S. policy as your editorial concludes. We should question why. Why would these older exiles risk their lives and security on what some might say is a quixotic mission?

The answer is freedom. The same freedom that people like Nelson Mandela fought for and that we fight to preserve with every breath, every day.